Are you planning to buy cherry wood furniture and wondering if it is a good choice or not?

Is cherry wood good for furniture? What are the benefits and disadvantages of using cherry wood for furniture?

This article is a complete guide where you’re going to learn every single thing about cherry wood and furniture.

Table of Contents

Is cherry a good wood for furniture?

Yes, cherry wood is always an excellent choice for furniture. This wood has all the good qualities that you want to see in your furniture items.

Cherry wood is very attractive due to its dark & reddish-brown color. Cherry wood keeps ripening with age and becomes more & more dark which makes the furniture even more beautiful.

It has a very smooth texture with straight and uniform grains. That’s why cherry wood has great workability and it can be polished extremely well also.

Moreover, cherry wood is extremely durable. It is considered a long-term investment because it has a very long life.

This is why cherry wood is a good choice for furniture because it has all the good qualities that you are looking for.

Is cherry wood good for outdoor furniture?

Cherry wood can be used for outdoor furniture.

However, you need to keep in mind that cherry wood changes its color when exposed to light. It becomes darker and then remains like that.

So, you need to consider this point before using cherry wood for outdoor purposes. You should also add a protective layer to save the cherry wood from extreme weather conditions.

Is cherry wood furniture expensive?

Yes, cherry wood furniture is expensive.

One of the major drawbacks of cherry wood furniture is that its price is higher.

The reason is that cherry wood has elite quality. This wood has so many good features and that’s why it is one of the most expensive as well.

The money you will spend on cherry wood furniture will benefit you in the long run. Cherry wood is very durable and it keeps getting more attractive with time.

Is cherry more expensive than oak?

Yes, cherry is more expensive than oak.

The price of wood depends upon its availability and quality. If something is available abundantly, then its price will be lower. But if something has low availability, then its price will be higher.

The same principle applies to oak and cherry wood.

Oak has high availability (especially in the US) and that’s why its price is lower than cherry.

Cherry wood is exclusive and has premium quality so that’s why its price is higher than oak.

How to identify cherry wood furniture?

Identifying cherry wood furniture can be very challenging especially if you are a beginner with no knowledge about woods.

Here are some pro tips that will help you easily identify real cherry wood furniture:

Look at the color

Cherry wood has a pale/light pink color when it is freshly cut.

However, cherry wood ripens due to age and exposure to light. Then it becomes rich dark reddish-brown.

You need to ask them if this cherry furniture is very old or brand new. If it’s old, it will be darker and reddish-brown. If it’s brand new, it may be less dark.

Look at the grains

The grains of real cherry woods are closed, fine, and simple.

There are no grain patterns on fake cherry wood. The fake ones also don’t have any black specks and have a uniform color. So, you need to be aware of that.

Look for pitch pockets or gum pockets

Real cherry wood has black flecks also called pitch pockets or gum pockets. They are formed due to the accumulation of minerals inside the wood.

You will not find this in fake cherry wood.

This is how you can identify cherry wood furniture and also distinguish it from fake cherry wood.

Pros and cons of cherry wood furniture

Let’s take a look at all the pros and cons of cherry wood furniture.

Pros of cherry wood furniture

Cherry wood looks attractive

When it comes to appearance, cherry wood furniture will always attract the eyes of viewers due to its elegant color.

It has a reddish-brown color that keeps getting darker with age & exposure to light. This way, cherry wood furniture keeps getting better with time. It will look more beautiful as it gets older.

Cherry wood furniture is durable

Everyone loves to have strong and durable furniture items that can last for longer.

Cherry wood furniture is extremely reliable because it is strong and durable. It can absorb shocks very well and does not crack easily. It is also very resistant to different insects and fungi.

That’s why cherry wood is considered a long-term investment because it has a longer life.

Cherry wood furniture has more workability

Some types of woods have poor workability. You need to put a lot of effort to get the desired end product.

However, cherry wood furniture is not like that. It has great workability which allows you to work on this furniture the way you want.

Cherry wood furniture polishes very well

Cherry wood furniture shows extremely good results after polishing. It will shine and look very beautiful.

Cherry wood darkens with age

When cherry wood is freshly cut, it has a pale and light pink color.

But, the cherry wood ripens with age and exposure to light. It turns darker and makes your furniture look even more beautiful.

So, your furniture only keeps getting better with time.

Cons of cherry wood furniture

Cherry wood is expensive

Cherry wood is a premium wood and its price is higher as compared to others.

If you are on a tight budget, then it may be a problem for you.

Cherry darkens with time

Cherry wood ripens and becomes dark with age & exposure to light.

You need to keep this point in mind.

It can be a problem for some people.

Sensitive towards dents

Cherry wood is hardwood but it is a little bit softer than the other hardwoods out there.

So, it is a bit more sensitive towards dents and dings.

Sunlight can change its color

Exposure to direct sunlight will ripen the cherry wood furniture and change its color.

It will turn darker and reddish-brown.

Prone to scratches

Cherry wood is prone to scratches because it is a little bit softer than the other hardwoods.

What wall color goes with cherry wood furniture?

Warm wall colors always go well with cherry wood furniture.

Light red, beige, gold, and white walls will always match the cherry wood furniture perfectly.

What color comforter goes with cherry wood furniture?

Merlot, red, beige, and gray color comforter will always look good with the cherry wood furniture.

What color bedding goes best with cherry wood furniture?

If you want to have a calm and natural environment in your room, then go with neutral colors like brown, beige, white, and gray.

If you want your cherry furniture to stand out, then you can use dark grey or dark green, etc.

What color curtain goes with cherry wood furniture?

The white, golden, beige, and cream color of curtains match the cherry wood furniture perfectly.

They give a warm and natural tone to your room.

How to clean and restore cherry wood furniture?

If your cherry wood furniture is looking old and dull, then here is how you can restore it and make it shine.

Total Time: 6 hours

Clean the cherry wood

Add some mineral spirit to a glass jar. Take a microfiber cloth and dip it in mineral spirit. Now use that cloth to rub your cherry wood furniture. This will help remove all the frozen dust from the furniture.

Now take another microfiber cloth and apply some denatured alcohol over it. Rub your cherry wood furniture with that. This will remove the mineral spirit you have applied to the wood.
Remove old finishing from the cherry wood furniture

Take some paint thinner and apply it to the cherry wood furniture with a clean microfiber cloth. This will help you remove the old wax or polish present on the furniture.
Apply stain on the wood

Take a paintbrush and use it to brush the stain on your cherry wood furniture. Use a clean cloth to remove the excess stain. Let the stain dry completely.
Apply polyurethane

Take a clean cloth and use it to apply some oil-based polyurethane to the wood. Let it dry for 3 hours.
Sand the surface

Use 20 grit sandpaper to sand the surface of the furniture. Always move in the direction of the grain and apply light pressure only.
Apply the second layer of polyurethane

Use a cloth to remove all the dust from furniture and then apply a second layer of polyurethane (oil-based) on it. Let it completely dry and then you can use the furniture.

How to care for cherry wood furniture?

Here are some tips that you must follow to take good care of your cherry wood furniture:

Perform regular dusting : You should always keep your cherry wood furniture neat and clean. Perform regular dusting to make sure your furniture does not get eaten up by dust. Otherwise, its quality will degrade and it can get damaged.
Protect it from water and moisture : You should not keep your cherry wood furniture exposed to water and moist conditions. Otherwise, it will get infested and get damaged.
Protect from infestation : You must protect your cherry wood furniture from different bugs and insects. It’s because they can eat up your furniture and damage it severely.